Method of forming a memory having a vertical transistor

ABSTRACT

Structures and method for an open bit line DRAM device are provided. The open bit line DRAM device includes an array of memory cells. Each memory cell in the array of memory cells includes a pillar extending outwardly from a semiconductor substrate. The pillar includes a single crystalline first contact layer and a single crystalline second contact layer separated by an oxide layer. In each memory cell a single crystalline vertical transistor is formed along side of the pillar. The single crystalline vertical transistor includes an ultra thin single crystalline vertical first source/drain region coupled to the first contact layer, an ultra thin single crystalline vertical second source/drain region coupled to the second contact layer, an ultra thin single crystalline vertical body region which opposes the oxide layer and couples the first and the second source/drain regions, and a gate opposing the vertical body region and separated therefrom by a gate oxide. A plurality of buried bit lines are formed of single crystalline semiconductor material and disposed below the pillars in the array memory cells for interconnecting with the first contact layer of column adjacent pillars in the array of memory cells. Also, a plurality of word lines are included. Each word line is disposed orthogonally to the plurality of buried bit lines in a trench between rows of the pillars for addressing gates of the single crystalline vertical transistors that are adjacent to the trench.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a divisional of U.S. Application Ser. 09/780,125 filed on Feb. 9, 2001, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,531,727, which is incorporated herein by reference.

This application is related to the following commonly assigned U.S. patent applications: “Folded Bit Line DRAM with Ultra Thin Body Transistors,” Ser. No. 09/780,130, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,559,491, “Programmable Logic Arrays with Ultra Thin Body Transistors,” Ser. No. 09/780,087, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,496,034, “Memory Address and Decode Circuits with Ultra Thin Body Transistors,” Ser. No. 09/780,144, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,448,601, “Programmable Memory Address and Decode Circuits with Ultra Vertical Thin Body Transistors,” Ser. No. 09/780,126, now U.S. Pat. No.6,566,682, “In Service Programmable Logic Arrays with Vertical Ultra Thin Body Transistors,” Ser. No. 09/780,129, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,377,070, and “Flash Memory with Ultra Thin Vertical Body Transistors,” Ser. No. 09/780,169, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,424,001, which were filed on Feb. 9, 2001, and each of which disclosure is herein incorporated by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to integrated circuits, and in particular to open bit line DRAM with ultra thin body transistors.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Semiconductor memories, such as dynamic random access memories (DRAMs), are widely used in computer systems for storing data. A DRAM memory cell typically includes an access field-effect transistor (FET) and a storage capacitor. The access FET allows the transfer of data charges to and from the storage capacitor during reading and writing operations. The data charges on the storage capacitor are periodically refreshed during a refresh operation.

Memory density is typically limited by a minimum lithographic feature size (F) that is imposed by lithographic processes used during fabrication. For example, the present generation of high density dynamic random access memories (DRAMs), which are capable of storing 256 Megabits of data, require an area of 8F² per bit of data. There is a need in the art to provide even higher density memories in order to further increase data storage capacity and reduce manufacturing costs. Increasing the data storage capacity of semiconductor memories requires a reduction in the size of the access FET and storage capacitor of each memory cell. However, other factors, such as subthreshold leakage currents and alpha-particle induced soft errors, require that larger storage capacitors be used. Thus, there is a need in the art to increase memory density while allowing the use of storage capacitors that provide sufficient immunity to leakage currents and soft errors. There is also a need in the broader integrated circuit art for dense structures and fabrication techniques.

As the density requirements become higher and higher in gigabit DRAMs and beyond, it becomes more and more crucial to minimize cell area. One possible DRAM architecture is the open bit line structure.

The continuous scaling, however, of MOSFET technology to the deep sub-micron region where channel lengths are less than 0.1 micron, 100 nm, or 1000 Å causes significant problems in the conventional transistor structures. As shown in FIG. 1, junction depths should be much less than the channel length of 1000 Å, or this implies junction depths of a few hundred Angstroms. Such shallow junctions are difficult to form by conventional implantation and diffusion techniques. Extremely high levels of channel doping are required to suppress short-channel effects such as drain-induced barrier lowering; threshold voltage roll off, and sub-threshold conduction. Sub-threshold conduction is particularly problematic in DRAM technology as it reduces the charge storage retention time on the capacitor cells. These extremely high doping levels result in increased leakage and reduced carrier mobility. Thus making the channel shorter to improve performance is negated by lower carrier mobility.

Therefore, there is a need in the art to provide improved memory densities while avoiding the deleterious effects of short-channel effects such as drain-induced barrier lowering; threshold voltage roll off, and sub-threshold conduction, increased leakage and reduced carrier mobility. At the same time charge storage retention time must be maintained.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The above mentioned problems with semiconductor memories and other problems are addressed by the present invention and will be understood by reading and studying the following specification. Systems and methods are provided for transistors with ultra thin bodies, or transistors where the surface space charge region scales down as other transistor dimensions scale down.

In one embodiment of the present invention, an open bit line DRAM device is provided. The open bit line DRAM device includes an array of memory cells. Each memory cell in the array of memory cells includes a pillar extending outwardly from a semiconductor substrate. The pillar includes a single crystalline first contact layer and a single crystalline second contact layer separated by an oxide layer. In each memory cell a single crystalline vertical transistor is formed along side of the pillar. The single crystalline vertical transistor includes an ultra thin single crystalline vertical first source/drain region coupled to the first contact layer, an ultra thin single crystalline vertical second source/drain region coupled to the second contact layer, an ultra thin single crystalline vertical body region which opposes the oxide layer and couples the first and the second source/drain regions, and a gate opposing the vertical body region and separated therefrom by a gate oxide. A plurality of buried bit lines are formed of single crystalline semiconductor material and disposed below the pillars in the array memory cells for interconnecting with the first contact layer of column adjacent pillars in the array of memory cells. Also, a plurality of word lines are included. Each word line is disposed orthogonally to the plurality of buried bit lines in a trench between rows of the pillars for addressing gates of the single crystalline vertical transistors that are adjacent to the trench.

The invention also provides a method of fabricating an open bit line DRAM device. The method includes forming an array of memory cells. According to the teachings of the present invention forming each memory cell in the array of memory cells includes forming a pillar extending outwardly from a semiconductor substrate. Forming the pillar includes forming a single crystalline first contact layer of a first conductivity type and forming a single crystalline second contact layer of the first conductivity type vertically separated by an oxide layer.

Forming each memory cell in the array of memory cells further includes forming a single crystalline vertical transistor along side of the pillar. Forming the single crystalline vertical transistor includes depositing a lightly doped polysilicon layer of a second conductivity type over the pillar and directionally etching the polysilicon layer of the second conductivity type to leave only on sidewalls of the pillars. Forming the single crystalline vertical transistor includes annealing the pillar such that the lightly doped polysilicon layer of the second conductivity type recrystallizes and lateral epitaxial solid phase regrowth occurs vertically to form a single crystalline vertically oriented material of the second conductivity type. According to the teachings of the present invention, annealing causes the single crystalline first and second contact layers of a first conductivity type to seed a growth of single crystalline material of the first conductivity type into the lightly doped polysilicon layer of the second type to form vertically oriented first and second source/drain regions of the first conductivity type separated by the now single crystalline vertically oriented material of the second conductivity type. Forming the single crystalline vertical transistor further includes forming a gate opposing the single crystalline vertically oriented material of the second conductivity type which is separated therefrom by a gate oxide.

Forming each memory cell in the array of memory cells further includes forming a plurality of buried bit lines of single crystalline semiconductor material which are disposed below the pillars in the array memory cells such that each one of the plurality of buried bit lines couples to the first contact layer of column adjacent pillars in the array of memory cells. The method further includes forming a plurality of word lines disposed orthogonally to the plurality of buried bit lines. Forming the plurality of word lines includes forming each one of the plurality of wordlines in a trench between rows of the pillars for addressing gates of the single crystalline vertical transistors that are adjacent to the trench.

These and other embodiments, aspects, advantages, and features of the present invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will become apparent to those skilled in the art by reference to the following description of the invention and referenced drawings or by practice of the invention. The aspects, advantages, and features of the invention are realized and attained by means of the instrumentalities, procedures, and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an illustration of a convention MOSFET transistor illustrating the shortcomings of such conventional MOSFETs as continuous scaling occurs to the deep sub-micron region where channel lengths are less than 0.1 micron, 100 nm, or 1000 Å.

FIG. 2A is a diagram illustrating generally one embodiment of an open bit line DRAM with vertical ultra thin body transistors according to the teachings of the present invention.

FIG. 2B illustrates an embodiment of the present invention for an open bit line architecture practiced having a single wordline/gate per vertical ultra thin body transistors formed on opposing sides of pillars according to the teachings of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a vertical ultra thin body transistor formed along side of a pillar according to the teachings of the present invention.

FIG. 4A is a perspective view illustrating generally one embodiment of a portion of an open bit line memory according to the present invention.

FIG. 4B is a top view of FIG. 4A illustrating generally pillars including the ultra thin single crystalline vertical transistors.

FIG. 4C is a perspective view illustrating another embodiment of a portion of an open bit line memory array according to the present invention.

FIG. 4D is a cross sectional view taken along cut-line 4D—4D of FIG. 4C illustrating generally pillars including the ultra thin single crystalline vertical transistors according to the teachings of the present invention.

FIGS. 5A-5C illustrate an initial process sequence which for forming pillars along side of which vertical ultra thin body transistors can later be formed as part of forming an open bit line DRAM according to the teachings of the present invention.

FIGS. 6A-6C illustrate that the above techniques described in connection with FIGS. 5A-5C can be implemented with a bulk CMOS technology or a silicon on insulator (SOI) technology.

FIGS. 7A-7D illustrate a process sequence continuing from the pillar formation embodiments provided in FIGS. 5A-6C to form vertical ultra thin body transistors along side of the pillars.

FIGS. 8A-8C illustrate a process sequence for forming a horizontal gate structure embodiment, referred to herein as horizontal replacement gates, in connection with the present invention.

FIGS. 9A-9D illustrate a process sequence for forming a vertical gate structure embodiment, in connection with the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In the following detailed description of the invention, reference is made to the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof, and in which is shown, by way of illustration, specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. The embodiments are intended to describe aspects of the invention in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention. Other embodiments may be utilized and changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. In the following description, the terms wafer and substrate are interchangeably used to refer generally to any structure on which integrated circuits are formed, and also to such structures during various stages of integrated circuit fabrication. Both terms include doped and undoped semiconductors, epitaxial layers of a semiconductor on a supporting semiconductor or insulating material, combinations of such layers, as well as other such structures that are known in the art. The following detailed description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is defined only by the appended claims.

FIG. 2A is a diagram illustrating generally one embodiment of an open bit line DRAM with vertical ultra thin body transistors according to the teachings of the present invention. In general, FIG. 2A shows an integrated circuit 200, such as a semiconductor memory device, incorporating an array of memory cells provided by the invention. As shown in FIG. 2A, circuit 200 includes memory cell arrays 210, such as 210A and 210B. Each array 210 includes M rows and N columns of memory cells 212.

In the embodiment of FIG. 2A, each memory cell includes a transfer device, such as n-channel cell access field-effect transistor (FET) 230. More particularly, access FET 230 includes at least one, but may include two, gates for controlling conduction between the access FET's 230 first and second source/drain terminals.

Access FET 230 is coupled at a second source/drain terminal to a storage node of a storage capacitor 232. The other terminal of storage capacitor 232 is coupled to a reference voltage such as a ground voltage VSS. Each of the M rows includes one of word lines WL0, WL1 . . . WLm-1, WLm which serve as or are coupled to a first gate of access FETs 230. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2A, each of the M rows also includes one of word lines R0, R2, . . . , Rm-1, Rm coupled to a second gate of access FETs 230 in memory cells 212. As one of ordinary skill in the art will understand upon reading this disclosure, two wordlines per access FET 230 are not required to practice the invention, but rather represent one embodiment for the same. The invention may be practiced having a single wordline/gate per access FET 230 and the same is illustrated in FIG. 2B. The invention is not so limited. The term wordline includes any interconnection line for controlling conduction between the first and second source/drain terminals of access FETs 230. According to the teachings of the present invention, and as explained in more detail below, access FETs 230 include vertical ultra thin body transistors 230.

Each of the N columns includes one of bit lines BL0, BL1 . . . BLn-1, Bln. Bit lines BL0-BLn are used to write to and read data from memory cells 212. Word lines WL0-WLm and R0-Rm are used to activate access FETs 230 to access a particular row of memory cells 212 that is to be written or read. As shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, addressing circuitry is also included. For example, address buffer 214 controls column decoders 218, which also include sense amplifiers and input/output circuitry that is coupled to bit lines BL0-BLn. Address buffer 214 also controls row decoders 216. Row decoders 216 and column decoders 218 selectably access memory cells 212 in response to address signals that are provided on address lines 220 during read and write operations. The address signals are typically provided by an external controller such as a microprocessor or other memory controller. Each of memory cells 212 has a substantially identical structure, and accordingly, only one memory cell 212 structure is described herein. The same are described in more detail in connection with FIG. 3.

In one example mode of operation, circuit 200 receives an address of a particular memory cell 212 at address buffer 214. Address buffer 214 identifies one of the word lines WL0-WLm of the particular memory cell 212 to row decoder 216. Row decoder 216 selectively activates the particular word line WL0-WLm to activate access FETs 230 of each memory cell 212 that is connected to the selected word line WL0-WLm. Column decoder 218 selects the one of bit lines BL0-BLn of the particularly addressed memory cell 212. For a write operation, data received by input/output circuitry is coupled to the one of bit lines BL0-BLn and through the access FET 230 to charge or discharge the storage capacitor 232 of the selected memory cell 212 to represent binary data. For a read operation, data stored in the selected memory cell 212, as represented by the charge on its storage capacitor 232, is coupled to the one of bit lines BL0-BLn, amplified, and a corresponding voltage level is provided to the input/output circuits.

According to one aspect of the invention, each of the first and second gates of access FET 230 is capable of controlling the conduction between its first and second source/drain terminals, as described below. In this embodiment, parallel switching functionality can be effected between the first and second source/drain terminals of access FET 230 by independently operating the particular ones of word lines WL0-WLm and corresponding ones of word lines R0-Rm. For example, by independently activating word line WL0 and word line R0, both of which are coupled to the same row of memory cells 212, independently controlled inversion channels can be formed in each corresponding access FET 230 by respective first and second gates for allowing conduction between the first and second source/drain regions.

According to another aspect of the invention, each of the first and second gates of access FET 230 is capable of controlling the conduction between its first and second source/drain terminals, but the first and second gates of particular access FETs 230 are synchronously activated, rather than independently operated. For example, by synchronously activating word line WL0 and word line R0, both of which are coupled to the same row of memory cells 212, synchronously activated inversion channels can be formed in each corresponding access FET 230 by respective first and second gates for allowing conduction between the first and second source/drain regions.

In this embodiment, synchronous activation and deactivation of the first and second gates allows better control over the potential distributions in the access FET 230 when it is in a conductive state. Synchronous activation and deactivation can be used to obtain well-controlled fully depleted operating characteristics of access FET 230.

In a further embodiment in which the first and second gates are either synchronously or independently activated, different activation voltages can be applied to the first and second gates of the access FET 230. For example, different voltages can be provided to synchronously activated word lines WL0 and R0, thereby providing different activation voltages to the first and second gates of the access FET 230 to obtain particular desired operating characteristics. Similarly, different deactivation voltages can be applied to the first and second gates of the access FET 230. For example, different deactivation voltages can be provided to synchronously deactivated word lines WL0 and R0 and corresponding first and second gates of access FETs 230, in order to obtain particular desired operating characteristics. Similarly, different activation and deactivation voltages can be applied to independently operated word lines such as WL0 and R0.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an access FET 300 formed according to the teachings of the present invention which make up a portion of the memory cells 212 shown in FIG. 2. As shown in FIG. 3, access FET 300 includes a vertical ultra thin body transistor, or otherwise stated an ultra thin single crystalline vertical transistor. According to the teachings of the present invention, the structure of the access FET 300 includes a pillar 301 extending outwardly from a semiconductor substrate 302. The pillar includes a single crystalline first contact layer 304 and a single crystalline second contact layer 306 vertically separated by an oxide layer 308. An ultra thin single crystalline vertical transistor 310 is formed along side of the pillar 301. The ultra thin single crystalline vertical transistor 310 includes an ultra thin single crystalline vertical body region 312 which separates an ultra thin single crystalline vertical first source/drain region 314 and an ultra thin single crystalline vertical second source/drain region 316. A gate 318, which may be integrally formed with a word line as described above, is formed opposing the ultra thin single crystalline vertical body region 312 and is separated therefrom by a thin gate oxide layer 320.

According to embodiments of the present invention, the ultra thin single crystalline vertical body region 312 includes a channel having a vertical length (L) of less than 100 nanometers. Also, the ultra thin single crystalline vertical body region has a horizontal width (W) of less than 10 nanometers. According to the teachings of the present invention, the ultra thin single crystalline vertical transistor 310 is formed from solid phase epitaxial growth.

FIG. 4A is a perspective view illustrating generally one embodiment of a portion of an open bit line memory array 410 according to the present invention. FIG. 4 illustrates portions of six memory cells 401-1, 401-2, 401-3, 401-4, 401-5, and 401-6 which include ultra thin single crystalline vertical transistors 430. According to the teachings of the present invention, these ultra thin single crystalline vertical transistors 430 are formed, as described in connection with FIG. 3, along side of pillars extending outwardly from a semiconductor substrate 400. These pillars are formed on conductive segments of bit lines 402 which represent particular ones of bit lines BL0-BLn. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4A conductive segments of first word line 406 represents any one of word lines WL0-WLm, which provide integrally formed first gates for ultra thin single crystalline vertical transistors 430 on one side of a trench in which the particular first word line 406 is interposed, depending on the desired circuit configuration as presented in connection with FIG. 2B. Conductive segments of second word line 408 represents any one of word lines W0-Wm, which provide integrally formed second gates for ultra thin single crystalline vertical transistors 430 in a neighboring trench in which the particular second word line 408 is interposed.

As explained in connection with FIG. 3, ultra thin single crystalline vertical transistors 430 are formed alongside of pillars that extend outwardly from an underlying substrate 410. As described below, substrate 400 includes bulk semiconductor starting material, semiconductor-on-insulator (SOI) starting material, or SOI material that is formed from a bulk semiconductor starting material during processing.

FIG. 4A illustrates one example embodiment, using bulk silicon processing techniques. As shown in FIG. 4A, the pillars include an n+ silicon layer formed on a bulk silicon substrate 400 to produce first contact layer 412 and integrally formed n++ conductively doped bit lines 402 defining a particular column of memory cells shown as BL0-Bln in FIGS. 2A and 2B. An oxide layer 414 is formed on n+ first contact layer 412. A further n+ silicon layer is formed on oxide layer 414 to produce second contact layer 416 of in the pillars. Storage capacitors 432 are formed on the second contact layers 416 using any suitable technique as the same will be known and understood by one of ordinary skill in the art upon reading this disclosure.

In the embodiment of FIG. 4A, word lines WL0-WLm are disposed (interdigitated) within the array 410. For example, first word line 406 is interposed in a trench 431 between pillars of 401-1 and 401-3 and between pillars 401-2 and 401-4. Second word line 408 is interposed in a trench 432 between semiconductor pillars of memory cell pairs 401-3 and 401-5 and between pillars 401-4 and 401-6. Thus, as seen from FIG. 4A, the ultra thin single crystalline vertical transistors 430 which are formed along side of the pillars are also in contact with bit lines 402 through the first contact layers 412. In this embodiment, bit lines 402 contact bulk semiconductor substrate 400.

Isolation trenches provide isolation between ultra thin single crystalline vertical transistors 430 of adjacent memory cells 401-1, 401-2, 401-3, 401-4, 401-5, and 401-6. Columns of pillars along a bit line direction are separated by a trench 420 that is subsequently filled with a suitable insulating material such as silicon dioxide. For example, a trench 420 provides isolation between pillars 401-1 and 401-2 and between pillars 401-3 and 401-4. Rows of pillars including the ultra thin single crystalline vertical transistors 430 are alternatingly separated by trenches 431 and 432, each of which contain word lines WL0-WLm as described above. Such word lines WL0-WLm are separated from substrate 400 by an underlying insulating layer, described below, and separated from the ultra thin vertically oriented single crystalline body regions of ultra thin single crystalline vertical transistors 430 (as described in connection with FIG. 3) by a gate oxide, also described below. Trenches 431 and 432 extend substantially orthogonally to bit lines 402.

In one embodiment, respective first and second word lines 406 and 408 are formed of a refractory metal, such as tungsten or titanium. In another embodiment, first and second word lines 406 and 408 can be formed of n+ doped polysilicon. Similarly, other suitable conductors could also be used for first and second words lines 406 and 408, respectively. One of ordinary skill in the art will further understand upon reading this disclosure that the conductivity types described herein can be reversed by altering doping types such that the present invention is equally applicable to include structures having ultra thin vertically oriented single crystalline p-channel type transistors 430. The invention is not so limited.

Burying first and second word lines 406 and 408 below semiconductor a top surface of the vertical pillars provides additional space on the upper portion of memory cells, 401-1, 401-2, 401-3, 401-4, 401-5, and 401-6, for formation of storage capacitors 432. Increasing the area available for forming storage capacitor 432 increases the possible obtainable capacitance value of storage capacitor 432. In one embodiment, storage capacitor 432 is a stacked capacitor that is formed using any of the many capacitor structures and process sequences known in the art. Other techniques could also be used for implementing storage capacitor 432. Contacts to the first and second word lines 406 and 408, respectively, can be made outside of the memory array 410.

FIG. 4B is a top view of FIG. 4A illustrating generally pillars including the ultra thin single crystalline vertical transistors 430. FIG. 4B illustrates subsequently formed insulator such as oxide 424, formed in trenches 420 to provide isolation between the pillars including the ultra thin single crystalline vertical transistors 430. In this embodiment, first word line 406 is between adjacent pillars including the ultra thin single crystalline vertical transistors 430 in a given column, such as between pillars 401-1 and 401-3 which are coupled to the same bit line. First word line 406 is shared between adjacent pillars including the ultra thin single crystalline vertical transistors 430 that are in a given row, e.g. 401-1 and 401-2, but coupled to different bit lines 402. First word line 406 is located in trench 431 that extends between the pillars 401-1 and 401-3. First word line 406 is separated by gate oxide 418 from the vertically oriented single crystalline ultra thin body regions in the ultra thin single crystalline vertical transistors 430 alongside of the pillars on the side of trench 431.

Second word line 408 is shared between adjacent pillars including the ultra thin single crystalline vertical transistors 430 in a given row, such as between pillars 401-1 and 401-2, but coupled to different bit lines 402. Second word line 408 is also between adjacent pillars including the ultra thin single crystalline vertical transistors 430 that are in the same column, such as between pillars 401-1 and 401-3 and coupled to the same bit line 402. The structural relationship for second word line 408 is thus analogous to that for first word line 406.

As illustrated in the plan view of FIG. 4B, respective first and second word lines 406 and 408 are shared between pillars including the ultra thin single crystalline vertical transistors 430. As a result, only one surface line width of each is allocated to each memory cell. The row pitch of each cell, measured from the centerline of first word line 406 to the centerline of second word line 408, can be approximately 3F, where F is a minimum lithographic feature size. F corresponds to the length and width presented by the surface of a minimum-sized semiconductor pillar in each memory cell, 401-1, 401-2, 401-3, 401-4, 401-5, and 401-6. The column pitch of each cell, measured between centerlines of bit lines 402 can be approximately 2F. Thus, the surface area of each memory cell, 401-1, 401-2, 401-3, 401-4, 401-5, and 401-6, can be approximately 6F².

FIG. 4C is a perspective view illustrating another embodiment of a portion of an open bit line memory array 410 according to the present invention. FIG. 4C illustrates portions of six memory cells 401-1, 401-2, 401-3, 401-4, 401-5, and 4016 which include ultra thin single crystalline vertical transistors 430. According to the teachings of the present invention, these ultra thin single crystalline vertical transistors 430 are formed, as described in connection with FIG. 3, along side of pillars extendingly outwardly from a semiconductor substrate 400. These pillars are formed on conductive segments of bit lines 402 which represent particular ones of bit lines BL0-BLn. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4C conductive segments of first word line 406A and 406B represent any one of word lines WL0-WLm, which provide integrally formed first gates for ultra thin single crystalline vertical transistors 430 on opposing sides of a trench in which the particular first word lines 406A and 406B are interposed, depending on the desired circuit configuration as presented in connection with FIGS. 2A and 2B. Conductive segments of second word line 408A and 408B represent any one of word lines R0-Rm, which provide integrally formed second gates for ultra thin single crystalline vertical transistors 430 on opposing sides of a trench in which the particular second word lines 408A and 408B are interposed. Thus, word lines WL0-WLm and R0-Rm are alternatingly disposed (interdigitated) within the array 410.

As explained in connection with FIG. 3, ultra thin single crystalline vertical transistors 430 are formed alongside of pillars that extend outwardly from an underlying substrate 410. As described below, substrate 400 includes bulk semiconductor starting material, semiconductor-on-insulator (SOI) starting material, or SOI material that is formed from a bulk semiconductor starting material during processing.

FIG. 4C illustrates one example embodiment, using bulk silicon processing techniques. As shown in FIG. 4C, the pillars include an n+ silicon layer formed on a bulk silicon substrate 400 to produce first contact layer 412 and integrally formed n++ conductively doped bit lines 402 defining a particular column of memory cells shown as BL0-Bln in FIGS. 2A and 2B. An oxide layer 414 is formed on n+ first contact layer 412. A further n+ silicon layer is formed on oxide layer 414 to produce second contact layer 416 of in the pillars. Storage capacitors 432 are formed on the second contact layers 416 using any suitable technique as the same will be known and understood by one of ordinary skill in the art upon reading this disclosure.

Word lines WL0-WLm and R0-RM are alternatingly disposed (interdigitated) within the array 410. For example, first word lines 406A and 406B are interposed in a trench 431 between pillars of 401-1 and 401-3 and between pillars 401-2 and 401-4 and separated by an insulator material such as an oxide. Second word lines 408A and 408B are interposed in a trench 432 between semiconductor pillars of memory cell pairs 401-3 and 401-5 and between pillars 401-4 and 401-6 and separated by an insulator material such as an oxide. As shown in the embodiment of FIG. 4C, the first and second wordlines 406A, 406B and 408A, 408B respectively, are integrally formed as gates for the ultra thin single crystalline vertical transistors 430 which are formed along side of the pillars such that the wordlines couple with the ultra thin single crystalline vertical transistors 430 in each row adjacent pillar to form the open bit line DRAM device of the present invention. Also, as seen from FIG. 4C, the ultra thin single crystalline vertical transistors 430 which are formed along side of the pillars are in contact with bit lines 402 through the first contact layers 412. In this embodiment, bit lines 402 contact bulk semiconductor substrate 400.

Isolation trenches provide isolation between ultra thin single crystalline vertical transistors 430 of adjacent memory cells 401-1, 401-2, 401-3, 401-4, 401-5, and 401-6. Columns of pillars along a bit line direction are separated by a trench 420 that is subsequently filled with a suitable insulating material such as silicon dioxide. For example, a trench 420 provides isolation between pillars 401-1 and 401-2 and between pillars 401-3 and 401-4. Rows of pillars including the ultra thin single crystalline vertical transistors 430 are alternatingly separated by trenches 431 and 432, each of which contain word lines WL0-WLm and R0-Rm as described above. Such word lines WL0-WLm and R0-Rm are separated from substrate 400 by an underlying insulating layer, described below, and separated from the ultra thin vertically oriented single crystalline body regions of ultra thin single crystalline vertical transistors 430 (as described in connection with FIG. 3) by a gate oxide, also described below. Trenches 431 and 432 extend substantially orthogonally to bit lines 402.

In one embodiment, respective first and second word lines, 406A, 406B and 408A, 408B respectively, are formed of a refractory metal, such as tungsten or titanium. In another embodiment, first and second word lines 406 and 408 can be formed of n+ doped polysilicon. Similarly, other suitable conductors could also be used for first and second word lines, 406A, 406B and 408A, 408B respectively. One of ordinary skill in the art will further understand upon reading this disclosure that the conductivity types described herein can be reversed by altering doping types such that the present invention is equally applicable to include structures having ultra thin vertically oriented single crystalline p-channel type transistors 430. The invention is not so limited.

Burying first and second word lines, 406A, 406B and 408A, 408B respectively, below semiconductor a top surface of the vertical pillars provides additional space on the upper portion of memory cells, 401-1, 401-2, 401-3, 401-4, 401-5, and 401-6, for formation of storage capacitors 433. Increasing the area available for forming storage capacitor 433 increases the possible obtainable capacitance value of storage capacitor 433. In one embodiment, storage capacitor 433 is a stacked capacitor that is formed using any of the many capacitor structures and process sequences known in the art. Other techniques could also be used for implementing storage capacitor 433. Contacts to the first and second word lines, 406A, 406B and 408A, 408B respectively, can be made outside of the memory array 410.

FIG. 4D is a cross sectional view taken along cut-line 4D—4D of FIG. 4C illustrating generally pillars including the ultra thin single crystalline vertical transistors 430. As shown in FIG. 4D, first word lines 406A and 406B are formed on opposing sides of trench 431 adjacent pillars including the ultra thin single crystalline vertical transistors 430 in a given column, such as between pillars 401-2 and 401-4 which are coupled to the same bit line. As was shown in FIG. 4C, first word lines 406A and 406B are also shared between adjacent pillars including the ultra thin single crystalline vertical transistors 430 that are in the adjacent columns, but coupled to different bit lines 402 and thus form the open bit line DRAM device. First word lines 406A and 406B are separated by gate oxides 418 from the vertically oriented single crystalline ultra thin body regions in the ultra thin single crystalline vertical transistors 430 alongside of the pillars on each side of trench 431.

As shown in FIG. 4D, second word lines 408A and 408B are formed on opposing sides of trench 432 adjacent pillars including the ultra thin single crystalline vertical transistors 430 in a given column, such as between pillars 401-4 and 401-6 which are coupled to the same bit line. As was shown in FIG. 4C, second word lines 408A and 408B are also shared between adjacent pillars including the ultra thin single crystalline vertical transistors 430 that are in the adjacent columns, but coupled to different bit lines 402 and thus form the open bit line DRAM device. Second word lines 408A and 408B are separated by gate oxides 418 from the vertically oriented single crystalline ultra thin body regions in the ultra thin single crystalline vertical transistors 430 alongside of the pillars on each side of trench 432. The structural relationship for second word lines 408A and 408B are analogous to that for first word lines 406A and 406B.

FIGS. 5A-5C illustrate an initial process sequence for forming pillars along side of which vertical ultra thin body transistors can later be formed as part of forming an open bit line DRAM according to the teachings of the present invention. The dimensions suggested are appropriate to a 0.1 μm cell dimension (CD) technology and may be scaled accordingly for other CD sizes. In the embodiment of FIG. 5A, a p-type bulk silicon substrate 510 starting material is used. An n++ and n+ silicon composite first contact layer 512 is formed on substrate 510, such as by ion-implantation, epitaxial growth, or a combination of such techniques to form a single crystalline first contact layer 512. According to the teachings of the present invention, the more heavily conductively doped lower portion of the first contact layer 512 also functions as the bit line 502. The thickness of the n++ portion of first contact layer 512 is that of the desired bit line 502 thickness, which can be approximately between 0.1 to 0.25 μm. The overall thickness of the first contact layer 512 can be approximately between 0.2 to 0.5 μm. An oxide layer 514 of approximately 100 nanometers (nm), 0.1 μm, thickness or less is formed on the first contact layer 512. In one embodiment, the oxide layer 514 can be formed by thermal oxide growth techniques. A second contact layer 516 of n+ silicon is formed on the oxide layer 514 to form a polycrystalline second contact layer 516. The second contact layer 516 is formed to a thickness of 100 nm or less.

Next, a thin silicon dioxide layer (SiO₂) 518 of approximately 10 nm is deposited on the second contact layer 516. A thicker silicon nitride layer (Si₃N₄) 520 of approximately 20 to 50 nm in thickness is deposited on the thin silicon dioxide layer (SiO₂) 518 to form pad layers, e.g. layers 518 and 520. These pad layers 518 and 520 can be deposited using any suitable technique such as by chemical vapor deposition (CVD).

A photoresist is applied and selectively exposed to provide a mask for the directional etching of trenches 525, such as by reactive ion etching (RIE). The directional etching results in a plurality of column bars 530 containing the stack of nitride layer 520, pad oxide layer 518, second contact layer 516, oxide layer 514, and first contact layer 512. Trenches 525 are etched to a depth that is sufficient to reach the surface 532 of substrate 510, thereby providing separation between conductively doped bit lines 502. The photoresist is removed. Bars 530 are now oriented in the direction of bit lines 502. In one embodiment, bars 530 have a surface line width of approximately 0.1 micron or less. The width of each trench 525 can be approximately equal to the line width of bars 530. The structure is now as appears in FIG. 5A.

In FIG. 5B, isolation material 532, such as SiO₂ is deposited to fill the trenches 525. The working surface is then planarized, such as by chemical mechanical polishing/planarization (CMP). A second photoresist is applied and selectively exposed to provide a mask for the directional etching of trenches 535 orthogonal to the bit line 502 direction. Trenches 535 can be formed using any suitable technique such as by reactive ion etching (RIE). Trenches 535 are etched through the exposed SiO₂ and the exposed stack of nitride layer 520, pad oxide layer 518, second contact layer 516, oxide layer 514, and into the first contact layer 512 but only to a depth sufficient to leave the desired bit line 502 thickness, e.g. a remaining bit line thickness of typically 100 nm. The structure is now as appears in FIG. 5B having individually defined pillars 540-1, 540-2, 540-3, and 540-4.

FIG. 5C illustrates a cross sectional view of the structure shown in FIG. 5B taken along cut-line 5C—5C. FIG. 5C shows the continuous bit line 502 connecting adjacent pillars 540-1 and 540-2 in any given column. Trench 535 remains for the subsequent formation of wordlines, as described below, in between adjacent rows of the pillars, such as a row formed by pillars 540-1 and 540-4 and a row formed by pillars 540-2, and 540-3.

FIGS. 6A-6C illustrate that the above techniques described in connection with FIGS. 5A-5C can be implemented on a bulk CMOS technology substrate or a silicon on insulator (SOI) technology substrate. FIG. 6A represents the completed sequence of process steps shown in FIGS. 5A-5C, minus the pad layers, formed on a lightly doped p-type bulk silicon substrate 610. The structure shown in FIG. 6A is similar to the cross sectional view in FIG. 5C and shows a continuous bit line 602 with pillar stacks 640-1 and 640-2 formed thereon. The pillars 640-1 and 640-2 include an n+ first contact layer 612, an oxide layer 614 formed thereon, and a second n+ contact layer 616 formed on the oxide layer 614.

FIG. 6B represents the completed sequence of process steps shown in FIGS. 5A-5C, minus the pad layers, formed on a commercial SOI wafer, such as SIMOX. As shown in FIG. 6B, a buried oxide layer 611 is present on the surface of the substrate 610. The structure shown in FIG. 6B is also similar to the cross sectional view in FIG. 5C and shows a continuous bit line 602 with pillar stacks 640-1 and 640-2 formed thereon, only here the continous bit line 602 is separated from the substrate 610 by the buried oxide layer 611. Again, the pillars 640-1 and 640-2 include an n+ first contact layer 612, an oxide layer 614 formed thereon, and a second n+ contact layer 616 formed on the oxide layer 614.

FIG. 6C represents the completed sequence of process steps shown in FIGS. 5A-5C, minus the pad layers, forming islands of silicon on an insulator, where the insulator 613 has been formed by oxide under cuts. Such a process includes the process described in more detail in U.S. Pat. No. 5,691,230, by Leonard Forbes, entitled “Technique for Producing Small Islands of Silicon on Insulator,” issued Nov. 25, 1997, which is incorporated herein by reference. The structure shown in FIG. 6C is also similar to the cross sectional view in FIG. 5C and shows a continuous bit line 602 with pillar stacks 640-1 and 640-2 formed thereon, only here the continous bit line 602 is separated from the substrate 610 by the insulator 613 which has been formed by oxide under cuts such as according to the process referenced above. Again, the pillars 640-1 and 640-2 include an n+ first contact layer 612, an oxide layer 614 formed thereon, and a second n+ contact layer 616 formed on the oxide layer 614. Thus, according to the teachings of the present invention, the sequence of process steps to form pillars, as shown in FIGS. 5A-5C, can include forming the same on at least three different types of substrates as shown in FIGS. 6A-6C.

FIGS. 7A-7C illustrate a process sequence continuing from the pillar formation embodiments provided in FIGS. 5A-5C, and any of the substrates shown in FIGS. 6A-6C, to form vertical ultra thin body transistors along side of the pillars, such as pillars 540-1 and 540-2 in FIG. 5C. For purposes of illustration only, FIG. 7A illustrates an embodiment pillars 740-1 and 740-2 formed on a p-type substrate 710 and separated by a trench 730. Analogous to the description provided in connection FIGS. 5A-5C, FIG. 7A shows a first single crystalline n+contact layer 712 a portion of which, in one embodiment, is integrally formed with an n++ bit line 702. An oxide layer region 714 is formed in pillars 740-1 and 740-2 on the first contact layer 712. A second n+ contact layer 716 is shown formed on the oxide layer region 714 in the pillars 740-1 and 740-2. And, pad layers of (SiO₂) 718 and (Si₃N₄) 720, respectively are shown formed on the second contact layer 716 in the pillars 740-1 and 740-2.

In FIG. 7B, a lightly doped p-type polysilicon layer 745 is deposited over the pillars 740-1 and 740-2 and directionally etched to leave the lightly doped p-type material 745 on the sidewalls 750 of the pillars 740-1 and 740-2. In one embodiment according to the teachings of the present invention, the lightly doped p-type polysilicon layer is directionally etched to leave the lightly doped p-type material 745 on the sidewalls 750 of the pillars 740-1 and 740-2 having a width (W), or horizontal thickness of 10 nm or less. The structure is now as shown in FIG. 7B.

The next sequence of process steps is described in connection with FIG. 7C. At this point another masking step, as the same has been described above, can be employed to isotropically etch the polysilicon 745 off of some of the sidewalls 750 and leave polysilicon 745 only on one sidewall of the pillars 740-1 and 740-2 if this is required by some particular configuration, e.g. forming ultra thin body transistors only on one side of pillars 740-1 and 740-2.

In FIG. 7C, the embodiment for forming the ultra thin single crystalline vertical transistors, or ultra thin body transistors, only on one side of pillars 740-1 and 740-2 is shown. In FIG. 7C, the wafer is heated at approximately 550 to 700 degrees Celsius. In this step, the polysilicon 745 will recrystallize and lateral epitaxial solid phase regrowth will occur vertically. As shown in FIG. 7C, the single crystalline silicon at the bottom of the pillars 740-1 and 740-2 will seed this crystal growth and an ultrathin single crystalline film 746 will form which can be used as the channel of an ultra thin single crystalline vertical MOSFET transistor. In the embodiment of FIG. 7C, where the film is left only on one side of the pillar, the crystallization will proceed vertically and into the n+ polysilicon second contact material/layer 716 on top of the pillars 740-1 and 740-2. If however, both sides of the pillars 740-1 and 740-2 are covered, the crystallization will leave a grain boundary near the center on top of the pillars 740-1 and 740-2. This embodiment is shown in FIG. 7D.

As shown in FIGS. 7C and 7D, drain and source regions, 751 and 752 respectively, will be formed in the ultrathin single crystalline film 746 along the sidewalls 750 of the pillars 740-1 and 740-2 in the annealing process by an out diffusion of the n+ doping in the first and the second contact layers, 712 and 716. In the annealing process, these portions of the ultrathin single crystalline film 746, now with the n+ dopant, will similarly recrystallize into single crystalline structure as the lateral epitaxial solid phase regrowth occurs vertically. The structure is now as shown in FIG. 7C or 7D. As one of ordinary skill in the art will understand upon reading this disclosure. A conventional gate insulator can be grown or deposited on this ultrathin single crystalline film 746. And, either horizontal or vertical gate structures can be formed in trenches 730.

As one of ordinary skill in the art will understand upon reading this disclosure, drain and source regions, 751 and 752 respectively, have been formed in an ultrathin single crystalline film 746 to form a portion of the ultra thin single crystalline vertical transistors, or ultra thin body transistors, according to the teachings of the present invention. The ultrathin single crystalline film 746 now includes an ultra thin single crystalline vertical first source/drain region 751 coupled to the first contact layer 712 and an ultra thin single crystalline vertical second source/drain region 752 coupled to the second contact layer 716. An ultra thin p-type single crystalline vertical body region 753 remains along side of, or opposite, the oxide layer 714 and couples the first source/drain region 751 to the second source/drain region 752. In effect, the ultra thin p-type single crystalline vertical body region 753 separates the drain and source regions, 751 and 752 respectively, and can electrically couple the drain and source regions, 751 and 752, when a channel is formed therein by an applied potential. The drain and source regions, 751 and 752 respectively, and the ultra thin body region 753 are formed of single crystalline material by the lateral solid phase epitaxial regrowth which occurs in the annealing step.

The dimensions of the structure now include an ultra thin single crystalline body region 753 having a vertical length of less than 100 nm in which a channel having a vertical length of less than 100 nm can be formed. Also, the dimensions include drain and source regions, 751 and 752 respectively, having a junction depth defined by the horizontal thickness of the ultrathin single crystalline film 746, e.g. less than 10 nm. Thus, the invention has provided junction depths which are much less than the channel length of the device and which are scalable as design rules further shrink. Further, the invention has provided a structure for transistors with ultra thin bodies so that a surface space charge region in the body of the transistor scales down as other transistor dimensions scale down. In effect, the surface space charge region has been minimized by physically making the body region of the MOSFET ultra thin, e.g. 10 nm or less.

One of ordinary skill in the art will further understand upon reading this disclosure that the conductivity types described herein can be reversed by altering doping types such that the present invention is equally applicable to include structures having ultra thin vertically oriented single crystalline p-channel type transistors 430. The invention is not so limited. From the process descriptions described above, the fabrication process can continue to form a number of different horizontal and vertical gate structure embodiments in the trenches 730 as described in connection with the Figures below.

FIGS. 8A-8C illustrate a process sequence for forming a horizontal gate structure embodiment, referred to herein as horizontal replacement gates, in connection with the present invention. The dimensions suggested in the following process steps are appropriate to a 0.1 micrometer CD technology and may be scaled accordingly for other CD sizes. FIG. 8A represents a structure similar to that shown in FIG. 7C. That is FIG. 8A shows an ultrathin single crystalline film 846 along the sidewalls 850 of pillars 840-1 and 840-2 in trenches 830. The ultrathin single crystalline film 846 at this point includes an ultra thin single crystalline vertical first source/drain region 851 coupled to a first contact layer 812 and an ultra thin single crystalline vertical second source/drain region 852 coupled to a second contact layer 816. An ultra thin p-type single crystalline vertical body region 853 is present along side of, or opposite, an oxide layer 814 and couples the first source/drain region 851 to the second source/drain region 852. According to the process embodiment shown in FIG. 8A an n+ doped oxide layer 821, or PSG layer as the same will be known and understood by one of ordinary skill in the art will understand, is deposited over the pillars 840-1 and 840-2 such as by a CVD technique. This n+ doped oxide layer 821 is then planarized to remove off of the top surface of the pillars 840-1 and 840-2. An etch process is performed to leave about 50 nm at the bottom of trench 830. Next, an undoped polysilicon layer 822 or undoped oxide layer 822 is deposited over the pillars 840-1 and 840-2 and CMP planarized to again remove from the top surface of the pillars 840-1 and 840-2. Then, the undoped polysilicon layer 822 is etched, such as by RIE to leave a thickness of 100 nm or less in the trench 830. Next, another n+ doped oxide layer 823, or PSG layer as the same will be known and understood by one of ordinary skill in the art will understand, is deposited over the pillars 840-1 and 840-2 such as by a CVD process. The structure is now as appears in FIG. 8A.

FIG. 8B illustrates the structure following the next sequence of fabrication steps. In FIG. 8B, a heat treatment is applied to diffuse the n-type dopant out of the PSG layers, e.g. 821 and 823 respectively, into the vertical ultrathin single crystalline film 846 to additionally form the drain and source regions, 851 and 852 respectively. Next, as shown in FIG. 8B, a selective etch is performed, as the same will be known and understood by one of ordinary skill in the art upon reading this disclosure, to remove the top PSG layer 823 and the undoped polysilicon layer 822, or oxide layer 822 in the trench 830. The structure is now as appears in FIG. 8B.

Next, in FIG. 8C, a thin gate oxide 825 is grown as the same will be known and understood by one of ordinary skill in the art, such as by thermal oxidation, for the ultra thin single crystalline vertical transistors, or ultra thin body transistors on the surface of the ultra thin single crystalline vertical body region 853. Next, doped n+ type polysilicon layer 842 can be deposited to form a gate 842 for the ultra thin single crystalline vertical transistors, or ultra thin body transistors. The structure then undergoes a CMP process to remove the doped n+ type polysilicon layer 842 from the top surface of the pillars 840-1 and 840-2 and RIE etched to form the desired thickness of the gate 842 for the ultra thin single crystalline vertical transistors, or ultra thin body transistors. In one embodiment, the doped n+ type polysilicon layer 842 is RIE etched to form an integrally formed, horizontally oriented word line/gate having a vertical side of less than 100 nanometers opposing the ultra thin single crystalline vertical body region 853. Next, an oxide layer 844 is deposited such as by a CVD process and planarized by a CMP process to fill trenches 830. An etch process is performed, as according to the techniques described above to strip the nitride layer 820 from the structure. This can include a phosphoric etch process using phosphoric acid. The structure is now as appears as is shown in FIG. 8C.

As one of ordinary skill in the art will understand upon reading this disclosure, contacts can be formed to the second contact layer 816 on top of the pillars 840-1 and 840-2 to continue with capacitor formation and standard BEOL processes.

FIGS. 9A-9C illustrate a process sequence for forming a vertical gate structure embodiment according to the teachings of the present invention. The dimensions suggested in the following process steps are appropriate to a 0.1 micrometer CD technology and may be scaled accordingly for other CD sizes. FIG. 9A represents a structure similar to that shown in FIG. 7C. That is FIG. 9A shows an ultrathin single crystalline film 956 along the sidewalls 950 of pillars 940-1 and 940-2 in trenches 930. The ultrathin single crystalline film 956 at this point includes an ultra thin single crystalline vertical first source/drain region 951 coupled to a first contact layer 912 and an ultra thin single crystalline vertical second source/drain region 952 coupled to a second contact layer 916. An ultra thin p-type single crystalline vertical body region 953 is present along side of, or opposite, an oxide layer 914 and couples the first source/drain region 951 to the second source/drain region 952. According to the process embodiment shown in FIG. 9A a conformal nitride layer of approximately 20 nm is deposited, such as by CVD, and directionally etched to leave only on the sidewalls 950. A oxide layer 921 is then grown, such as by thermal oxidation, to a thickness of approximately 50 nm in order to insulate the exposed bit line bars 902. The nitride layer is then stripped, using conventional stripping processes as the same will be known and understood by one of ordinary skill in the art. The structure is now as appears in FIG. 9A.

As shown in FIG. 9B, a thin gate oxide layer 957 is grown on the sidewalls 950 of the ultrathin single crystalline film 956 for the ultra thin single crystalline vertical transistors, or ultra thin body transistors.

In FIG. 9C, a wordline conductor of an n+ doped polysilicon material or suitable metal 941 is deposited to a thickness of approximately 50 nm or less. This wordline conductor 941 is then directionally etched to leave only on the vertical thin gate oxide layers 957 on the pillars forming separate vertical, integrally formed wordline/gates 941A and 941B. The structure is now as appears in FIG. 9C.

In FIG. 9D, an oxide layer 954 is deposited, such as by CVD, in order to fill the spaces in the trenches 930 between the separate vertical, integrally formed wordline/gates 941A and 941B of neighboring pillars 940-1 and 940-2. The oxide layer 954 is planarized by CMP to remove from the top of the pillars 940-1 and 9402. Then the remaining pad material 918 and 920 is etched, such as by RIE, to remove from the top of the pillars 940-1 and 940-2. Next, deposit CVD oxide 955 to cover the surface of the pillars 940-1 and 940-2. The structure is now as appears in FIG. 9D. As one of ordinary skill in the art will understand upon reading this disclosure, the process can now proceed with storage capacitor formation and BEOL process steps.

As one of ordinary skill in the art will understand upon reading this disclosure, the process steps described above produce integrally formed vertically oriented wordline conductors/gates 941A and 941B which serve as vertical gates along the sides of the pillars 940-1 and 940-2. This produces an open bit line DRAM structure embodiment which is similar the perspective view of FIG. 4C and the cross sectional view taken along the direction of the bit lines in FIG. 4D.

CONCLUSION

The above structures and fabrication methods have been described, by way of example, and not by way of limitation, with respect to an open bit line DRAM with ultra thin body transistors. Different types of gate structures are shown which can be utilized on three different types of substrates to form open bit line DRAM memory arrays.

It has been shown that higher and higher density requirements in DRAMs result in smaller and smaller dimensions of the structures and transistors. Conventional planar transistor structures are difficult to scale to the deep sub-micron dimensional regime. The present invention provides vertical access or transfer transistor devices which are fabricated in ultra-thin single crystalline silicon films grown along the sidewall of an oxide pillar. These transistors with ultra-thin body regions scale naturally to smaller and smaller dimensions while preserving the performance advantage of smaller devices. The advantages of smaller dimensions for higher density and higher performance are both achieved in open bit line memory arrays. 

1. A method for forming a memory cell, comprising: forming a pillar extending outwardly from a semiconductor substrate, wherein forming the pillar includes forming a single crystalline first contact layer of a first conductivity type and forming a single crystalline second contact layer of the first conductivity type vertically separated by an oxide layer; forming a single crystalline vertical transistor along side of the pillar, wherein forming the single crystalline vertical transistor includes: depositing a lightly doped polysilicon layer of a second conductivity type over the pillar and directionally etching the polysilicon layer of the second conductivity type to leave the polysilicon layer only on sidewalls of the pillars; annealing the pillar such that the lightly doped polysilicon layer of the second conductivity type recrystallizes and lateral epitaxial solid phase regrowth occurs vertically to form a single crystalline vertically oriented material of the second conductivity type; and wherein the annealing causes the single crystalline first and second contact layers of the first conductivity type to seed a growth of single crystalline material of the first conductivity type into the lightly doped polysilicon layer of the second type to form vertically oriented first and second source/drain regions of the first conductivity type separated by the now single crystalline vertically oriented material of the second conductivity type; forming a gate opposing the single crystalline vertically oriented material of the second conductivity type; and forming a capacitor coupled to the second contact layer.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein forming a single crystalline vertical transistor along side of the pillar includes forming the transistor such that the transistor has an ultra thin single crystalline vertical body region having a horizontal width of less than 10 nanometers.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein forming a single crystalline vertical transistor along side of the pillar includes forming the transistor such that the transistor has a vertical channel length of less than 100 nanometers and has a first and a second source/drain regions wherein the first and the second source/drain regions have a horizontal width of less than 10 nanometers.
 4. A method for forming a memory cell, comprising: forming a pillar extending outwardly from a semiconductor substrate, wherein forming the pillar includes forming a single crystalline first contact layer of a first conductivity type and forming a single crystalline second contact layer of the first conductivity type vertically separated by an oxide layer; forming a single crystalline vertical transistor along side of the pillar, wherein forming the single crystalline vertical transistor includes: depositing a lightly doped polysilicon layer of a second conductivity type over the pillar and directionally etching the polysilicon layer of the second conductivity type to leave the polysilicon layer only on sidewalls of the pillars; annealing the pillar such that the lightly doped polysilicon layer of the second conductivity type recrystallizes and lateral epitaxial solid phase regrowth occurs vertically to form a single crystalline vertically oriented material of the second conductivity type; and wherein the annealing causes the single crystalline first and second contact layers of the first conductivity type to seed a growth of single crystalline material of the first conductivity type into the lightly doped polysilicon layer of the second type to form vertically oriented first and second source/drain regions of the first conductivity type separated by the now single crystalline vertically oriented material of the second conductivity type; and forming a gate opposing the single crystalline vertically oriented material of the second conductivity type and separated therefrom by a gate oxide; forming a buried bit line of single crystalline semiconductor material below the pillar and coupled to the first contact layer; forming a capacitor coupled to the second contact layer; and forming a word line disposed orthogonally to the buried bit line in a trench below a top surface of the pillar for addressing the gate.
 5. The method of claim 4, wherein forming the buried bit line includes forming a buried bit line which is more heavily doped than the first contact layer and is formed integrally with the first contact layer.
 6. The method of claim 4, wherein forming a single crystalline vertical transistor along side of the pillar includes forming the transistor such that the transistor has the ultra thin single crystalline vertical body region with a p-type channel having a vertical length of less than 100 nanometers.
 7. The method of claim 6, wherein forming the transistor such that the transistor has the ultra thin single crystalline vertical body region includes forming the ultra thin single crystalline vertical body region to have a horizontal width of less than 10 nanometers.
 8. The method of claim 4, wherein forming a buried bit line of single crystalline semiconductor material below the pillar includes forming a buried bit line which is separated from the semiconductor substrate by an insulator layer.
 9. The method of claim 4, wherein forming the gate includes forming a horizontally oriented gate, wherein a vertical side of the horizontally oriented gate has a length of less than 100 nanometers.
 10. The method of claim 4, wherein forming the gate includes forming a vertically oriented gate having a vertical length of less than 100 nanometers.
 11. A method for forming an open bit line DRAM device, comprising: forming an array of memory cells, wherein forming each memory cell in the array of memory cells includes: forming a pillar extending outwardly from a semiconductor substrate, wherein forming the pillar includes forming a single crystalline first contact layer of a first conductivity type and forming a single crystalline second contact layer of the first conductivity type vertically separated by an oxide layer; forming a single crystalline vertical transistor along side of the pillar, wherein forming the single crystalline vertical transistor includes: depositing a lightly doped polysilicon layer of a second conductivity type over the pillar and directionally etching the polysilicon layer of the second conductivity type to leave the polysilicon layer only on sidewalls of the pillars; annealing the pillar such that the lightly doped polysilicon layer of the second conductivity type recrystallizes and lateral epitaxial solid phase regrowth occurs vertically to form a single crystalline vertically oriented material of the second conductivity type; and wherein the annealing causes the single crystalline first and second contact layers of the first conductivity type to seed a growth of single crystalline material of the first conductivity type into the lightly doped polysilicon layer of the second type to form vertically oriented first and second source/drain regions of the first conductivity type separated by the now single crystalline vertically oriented material of the second conductivity type; and forming a gate opposing the single crystalline vertically oriented material of the second conductivity type and separated therefrom by a gate oxide; forming a plurality of buried bit lines of single crystalline semiconductor material disposed below the pillars in the array of memory cells such that each one of the plurality of buried bit lines couples the first contact layer of column adjacent pillars in the array of memory cells; and forming a plurality of word lines disposed orthogonally to the plurality of buried bit lines, wherein forming the plurality of word lines includes forming each one of the plurality of word lines in a trench between rows of the pillars for addressing gates of the single crystalline vertical transistors that are adjacent to the trench.
 12. The method of claim 11, wherein forming each single crystalline vertical transistor includes forming an ultra thin body region with a p-type channel having a vertical length of less than 100 nanometers and a horizontal width of less than 10 nanometers.
 13. The method of claim 11, wherein forming the plurality of buried bit lines includes forming the plurality of buried bit lines separated by an oxide layer from the semiconductor substrate.
 14. The method of claim 11, wherein forming the plurality of word lines includes integrally forming each gate along a row of pillars with one of the plurality of word lines in the adjacent trench, and wherein forming each of the plurality of word lines includes forming a horizontally oriented word line having a vertical side of less than 100 nanometers opposing the single crystalline vertical transistor.
 15. The method of claim 11, wherein forming the plurality of word lines includes integrally forming each gate along a row of pillars with one of the plurality of word lines in the adjacent trench, and wherein forming each of the plurality of word lines includes forming a vertically oriented word line having a vertical length of less than 100 nanometers.
 16. The method of claim 11, wherein forming the plurality of word lines includes forming the plurality of word lines such that each word line addresses gates for the single crystalline vertical transistors which are both column adjacent and row adjacent.
 17. A method of forming a memory device, comprising: forming an array of memory cells, wherein forming each memory cell in the array of memory cells includes: forming a pillar extending outwardly from a semiconductor substrate, wherein forming the pillar includes forming a single crystalline first contact layer of a first conductivity type and forming a single crystalline second contact layer of the first conductivity type vertically separated by an oxide layer; forming a pair of single crystalline vertical transistors along opposing sides of the pillar, wherein forming each one of the pair of single crystalline vertical transistors includes: depositing a lightly doped polysilicon layer of a second conductivity type over the pillar and directionally etching the polysilicon layer of the second conductivity type to leave the polysilicon layer only on opposing sidewalls of the pillars; annealing the pillar such that the lightly doped polysilicon layer of the second conductivity type recrystallizes and lateral epitaxial solid phase regrowth occurs vertically to form a single crystalline vertically oriented material of the second conductivity type; and wherein the annealing causes the single crystalline first and second contact layers of the first conductivity type to seed a growth of single crystalline material of the first conductivity type into the lightly doped polysilicon layer of the second type to form vertically oriented first and second source/drain regions of the first conductivity type separated by the now single crystalline vertically oriented material of the second conductivity type; and forming a pair of gates, each gate opposing the single crystalline vertically oriented material of the second conductivity type and separated therefrom by a gate oxide; forming a plurality of buried bit lines of single crystalline semiconductor material disposed below the pillars in the array of memory cells such that each one of the plurality of buried bit lines couples the first contact layer of column adjacent pillars in the array of memory cells; and forming a plurality of first word lines disposed orthogonally to the plurality of buried bit lines in a trench between rows of the pillars for addressing gates of the single crystalline vertical transistors that are adjacent to a first side of the trench; and forming a plurality of second word lines disposed orthogonally to the bit lines in the trench between rows of the pillars and separated from each first word line by an insulator such that the second word line is adjacent a second side of the trench and addresses gates of the single crystalline vertical transistors that are adjacent to a second side of the trench.
 18. The method of claim 17, wherein forming the plurality of first word lines includes integrally forming each gate along a row of pillars adjacent a first side of the trench with one of the plurality of the first word lines adjacent the first side of the trench, and wherein forming the plurality of second word lines includes integrally forming each gate along a row of pillars adjacent a second side of the trench with one of the plurality of the second word lines adjacent the second side of the trench.
 19. The method of claim 18, wherein forming each of the plurality of first and second word lines includes forming vertically oriented word lines having a vertical length of less than 100 nanometers.
 20. The method of claim 18, wherein forming each single crystalline vertical transistor includes forming the single crystalline vertical transistor to have a vertical length of less than 100 nanometers and a horizontal width of less than 10 nanometers.
 21. A method of forming a memory cell, comprising: forming a pillar extending outwardly from a substrate, including forming a first contact layer, forming an insulator on the first contact layer, and forming a second contact layer on the insulator; forming a vertical transistor along a side of the pillar, wherein the vertical transistor has a body region with a vertical length of less than 100 nm in which a vertical channel region is formed, and further has both a first source/drain region and a second source/drain region which have a scalable junction depth less than 10 nm; and forming a capacitor coupled to the second contact layer.
 22. The method of claim 21, wherein: forming a first contact layer includes forming a single crystalline first contact layer of a first conductivity type, and forming a second contact layer includes forming a single crystalline second contact layer of the first conductivity type; and forming a vertical transistor along a side of the pillar includes: forming a lightly doped polysilicon layer along the side of the pillar; and annealing the pillar to: recrystallize the lightly doped polysilicon layer and form a single crystalline vertically-oriented material of the second conductivity type; and form vertically-oriented first and second source/drain regions of the first conductivity type separated by the single crystalline vertically oriented material of the second conductivity type.
 23. The method of claim 22, wherein the annealing causes the single crystalline first and second contact layers of the first conductivity type to seed a growth of single crystalline material of the first conductivity type into the lightly doped polysilicon layer to form the vertically-oriented first and second source/drain regions of the first conductivity type.
 24. The method of claim 21, wherein: forming the first contact layer includes forming the first contact layer to couple to a buried bit line; and the method further comprising forming a word line to gate the vertical transistor.
 25. The method of claim 21, wherein forming the insulator layer includes forming an oxide layer.
 26. A method of forming a memory cell, comprising: forming a pillar extending outwardly from a substrate, including forming a single crystalline first contact layer of a first conductivity type, forming an insulator on the first contact layer, and forming a single crystalline second contact layer of the first conductivity type on the insulator; forming a vertical transistor along a side of the pillar, including forming a lightly doped polysilicon layer along the side of the pillar, and annealing the pillar; and forming a capacitor coupled to the second contact layer.
 27. The method of claim 26, wherein the vertical transistor has a body region with a vertical length of less than 100 nm in which a vertical channel region is formed, and both a first source/drain region and a second source/drain region which have a scalable junction depth less than 10 nm.
 28. The method of claim 26, wherein annealing the pillar recrystallizes the lightly doped polysilicon layer and forms a single crystalline vertically oriented material of the second conductivity type, and forms vertically oriented first and second source/drain regions of the first conductivity type separated by the single crystalline vertically oriented material of the second conductivity type.
 29. The method of claim 26, wherein: forming the first contact layer includes forming the first contact layer to couple to a buried bit line; and the method further comprising forming a word line to gate the vertical transistor.
 30. A method of forming a memory cell, comprising: forming a pillar extending outwardly from a substrate, including forming a single crystalline first contact layer of a first conductivity type, forming an insulator on the first contact layer, and forming a single crystalline second contact layer of the first conductivity type on the insulator; forming a vertical transistor along a side of the pillar, including: forming a lightly doped polysilicon layer along the side of the pillar; recrystallizing the lightly doped polysilicon layer to form a single crystalline vertically oriented material of the second conductivity type; and forming vertically oriented first and second source/drain regions of the first conductivity type separated by the single crystalline vertically oriented material of the second conductivity type; and forming a capacitor coupled to the second contact layer.
 31. The method of claim 30, wherein the vertical transistor has a body region with a vertical length of less than 100 nm in which a vertical channel region is formed, and both a first source/drain region and a second source/drain region which have a scalable junction depth less than 10 nm.
 32. The method of claim 30, wherein recrystallizing the lightly doped polysilicon layer and forming vertically oriented first and second source/drain regions of the first conductivity type includes annealing the pillar which causes the single crystalline first and second contact layers of a first conductivity type to seed a growth of single crystalline material of the first conductivity type into the lightly doped polysilicon layer of the second type to form vertically oriented first and second source/drain regions of the first conductivity type separated by the now single crystalline vertically oriented material of the second conductivity type.
 33. The method of claim 30, wherein: forming the first contact layer includes forming the first contact layer to couple to a buried bit line; and the method further comprising forming a word line to gate the vertical transistor. 